FLIGHT, FKBRUARY 13, 1931
AIRISMS FROM THE FOUR WINDS
The Prince Flies Across Panama
AFTER the arrival of the Oropesa at Colon, on February 6,
the Prince of Wales and Prince George flew across the
isthmus to Panama, where they were received at the aero-
drome at Paitilla Field by Major Braithwaite Wallis, the
British Minister, Dr. Vallarino, the Panameno Foreign
Secretary, Colonel Harry Burgess, Governor of the Canal
Zone, Major-General Preston-Brown, and Rear-Admiral
Hough, commanding the 15th U.S. Naval Division. They
rejoined the Oropesa, which meanwhile had passed through
the Canal, in the evening.
R.A.F. Cairo-Cape Flight
THE three K.A.F. Vickers " Victoria " troop-carriers of
No. 216 (Bomber) Squadron, under the command of Sqdn-
Ldr. H. W. G. J. Penderel, which set out from Cairo on
January 12 on a 6,000-mile formation flight to Capetown,
arrived there on February 7. The Governor-General of the
Union, the Earl of Clarendon, accompanied by Lady Claren-
don, unexpectedly welcomed them. Sqdn.-Ldr. Penderel
said that the flight had been very successful. The planes
had withstood continual drenching rain between Nairobi
and Pretoria, and there had been one or two forced landings,
but minor repairs were quickly carried out. Flying condi-
tions in the Union had been perfect. The return flight com-
menced on February 11.
R.A.F. Flight to Basra
THE thrw Short " Kangoon " flying-boats of No. 203
(Flying Boat) Squadron, R.A.F., which, as reported last
week, are being flown out to Basra, where the Squadron
is stationed, left Felixstbwe on February 6. The three
machines, which are under the command of Group Captain
W. L. Welsh, took off at 10.50 a.m., and reached Calshot
at 12.55 p.m. Here they were delayed by bad weather
conditions.
Business Plane's Dash to the Cape
EARLY on February 11, Fit.-Lieut. T. Rose, D.S.C.,
left Lympne on a lightning business trip, piloting the Anglo-
American Oil Company's Avro-Avian machine High
Test (" Cirrus Hermes "). This is one of a fleet of light
aeroplanes used regularly in the company's service, but
on this occasion it set out on a task of unusual magnitude.
Fit.-Lieut. ROKC is making this 7,000-mile dash in order to
transact some important business in Cape Town. There is
no question of an attack on the existing record for the
journey, but it will be interesting from the business-man's
point of view to see how quickly a properly-equipped light
aeroplane can do the job without taking any undue risks.
A Business Tour in Winter
HAVING a number of business calls to make throughout
England, Mr. J. R. King, formerly of Brooklands and
National Flying Services, has just completed a thousand-mile
tour round England under severe winter conditions on his
Robinson " Redwing." Appointments were made at various
aerodromes and towns, and at no place was the machine
more than 25 minutes late, and this should dispel any theories
that business flying cannot be carried out in the winter.
Places visited were—Brooklands, South Wales, Birmingham,
Stake-on-Trent, Liverpool, Manchester, up the West Coast
across to Leeds, Newcastle, Scarborough, Hull and back"to
Croydon. Bad weather prevailed throughout the trip ; much
fog, snow and sleet, including gales, and on three nights the
" Redwing " was moor;d out in the open.
The Long-distance Record
THE world's long-distance record for non-stop flight
measured in a straight line, at present stands to the credit
of France, with a figure of 7,905-14 km. (approximately
4,900 miles), this distance having been flown by the French
pilots Costes and Bellonte on a Breguet " Superbidon."
This magnificent record is not likely to remain unassailed
for long, and in fact attempts to beat it, so far unsuccessful
on account of bad weather, have already been made. Three;
or four different French firms have built, or are building
machines designed especially for this record, all of them
monoplanes. In the meantime we in this country are not
losing sight of the record, although our chances of getting
it are far less promising than they were a \ ar or so ago
Had a new machine been put in hand at once, when the
unfortunate mishap to Jones-Williams and Jenkins took
place, we should probably be the holders of the record now
Delays have occurred, however, and although it appears
now to be an open secret that the Fairey Aviation Co. is
building a machine, the delay (for which that firm has not
been responsible) will vastly increase our difficulties, as it
seems likely that the French will give us another 1,000 miles
or so to beat by the time the British machine is ready. This
record, incidentally, is one of the few really worth-while
records, since it is at the same time a test of the aerodynamic
and structural efficiency of the aircraft and the reliability and
fuel economy of the engine.
Mrs. Victor Bruce
THE Hon. Mrs. Victor Bruce completed her world flight
in her Blackburn " Bluebird " when she arrived at Glenn
Curtis Airport, New York, last week. She is returning to
Europe in the French liner Ile-de-France, with her aeroplane
She will fly from France to Croydon on February 20, escorted
by Miss Winifred Spooner and other private owners, and
will be received at Croydon by Mr. F. Montague, Under-
secretary of State for Air. Air attaches of the countries
over which she flew will also be there to greet her. In the
evening she will be entertained at dinner by the British
Aviation Hospitality Committee and the Women's Auto-
mobile and Sports Association.
The Italian Atlantic Squadron
GENERAL BALBO and the other Italian aviators who took
part in the recent formation flight across the Atlantic, left
Rio de Janeiro on February 7 in the liner Conte Rosso. Major
Donatelli, however, remained behind, as he is to instruct
Brazilian airmen in the management Of the eleven seaplanes
which took part in the flight, and which have been acquired
by the Brazilian Government
U.S. Airship " Los Angeles "
THE U.S. airship Los Angeles left Lakehurst, New Jersey.
on February 4 for the military manoeuvres in Panama.
Do. X Held Up
IT is reported that the accident to the Dornier flying-
boat Do. X will delav her for a month at Las Palmas.
346-154 M.P.H. : " Blue Bird II," the car, designed by Mr. R. A. Railton and built by Thomson
and Taylor of Brooklands, in which Captain Malcolm Campbell set up the world's record at
Daytona. It is driven by a 1,350 h.p. special Napier aero engine, in which Hoffmann ball and
roller bearings and K.L.G. plugs were employed. Parts of the mechanism of " Blue Bird II "
were also made in the Precision Department of the Robinhood Engineering Works.
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